Tension



' (No Model.)

W. PHBNIX.

TENSION APPLIANGE FOR TRACTION GABLES.

e Peb. 112, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM PHENIX, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TENSION APPLIANCE FOR TRACTION-=CABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,611, dated February 12, 1889.

Application filed August 21, 1888. Serial No. 283,308%. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM PHENIX, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tension Appliances for Traction-Cables, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, that will enable others to make and use the same, refence being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a device for taking up the slack of tractioncables, and is so constructed and arranged as to maintain a constant and uniform tension or strain on both sides of the endless cable alike. This device is more especially intended for use at the foot of steep hills or heavy grades.

Figure 1 is a plan or top view of my improved appliance; Fig. 2, a side elevation, the inclosing-wall being removed; and Fig. 3, a vertical section through thehub of the cabletension wheel and slide.

In the drawings, A represents the cabletension sheave-wheel; A, the traction-cable; A the chamber below the surface in which said wheel is placed; A the weight-pit, and A the wall inclosing said chamber and pit.

The cable sheave-wheel A is set at an angle, the degree of inclination being in accordance with the grade or slope of the road-bed. This wheel is loosely mounted on the stationary shaft B, the cap a, removably secured to the upper end of said shaft, serving to retain the wheel A in its proper position. The hub to of the slide 0 is rigidly mounted on the lower end of the vertical shaft B. The upper end of the hub a is provided with the vertical annular rim (1. which engages loosely with the corresponding recess, a in the under side of the hub to of the wheel A, as shown in Fig. 3. This arrangement permits of the t611SlOl1-Wl166l rotating freely, but looks the same into engagement with the slide C, so as to follow the movements of the same. The two edges of the slide C engage with the guides a provided with the rabbeted grooves a a, as shown in Fig. These guides are supported at one end by being bolted to the transverse angle-bar I), (see Fig. 1,) while the opposite ends rest upon one side of the wall inclosing the weight -pit and are secured thereto by bolts embedded in the masonry, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The guides of are provided near their outer ends with the stop-lugs b, which limit the travel of the slide 0 in that direction, the bar 6 serving the same purpose on the opposite end.

b is a draw-bar attached to the slide C, and b an evener-bar pivoted transversely to the projecting end of the draw-bar, as shown in Fig. 1. To the respective ends of the evenerbar are connected the tension-weight cables I) b, which pass over the vertical companion sheaves b b and down into the pit and connect with the ends of the second transverse evener-bar b which is pivoted at its longi tudinal center to the head d on the vertical rod supporting the weight D. The sheaves b are pivoted with suitable journal-bearings and supported in the mouth of the pit by the beams d d.

In operation the slide C moves back and forth as the strain on the traction-cable is diminished or increased, the evener-bars and double-weight cables serving to instantly respond to and regulate the uneven or irregular strain on the two sides of the endless tractioncable. This arrangement provides a simple and convenient appliance for the purpose set forth, and one that can be used where the ordinary devices would not be applicable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. In a tension appliance for traction-cables, the combination, with the slide G, the hub whereof is rigidly mounted on the shaft B and provided on the upper end with the vertical annular rim c of the tension-wheel A, loosely mounted on the upper end of the shaft B, the hub whereof is provided with an annular recess, with which the rim a loosely engages, substantially as set forth.

2. In a tension appliance, the combination, with the traction'eable, of a tension sheavewheel arranged in an inclined horizontal position, the shaft B, upon the upper end of which said wheel is loosely mounted, the slide C, arranged underneath said tension-wheel and rigidly mounted on the lower end of said shaft, means for supporting said slide, the draw-bar b the evener-bar (2", the \veig'l'it-eables b I), connected by their upper ends to a the respective ends of the even'er-bar Z), the vertical companion sheaves U I), the evenerbar I), to the respective ends of which are connected the lower ends of the weight-cables 1) b and the weight D suspended from the loni gitudinal center of said evener-bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2-3. In a tension appliance for t action-cables, i the combination, with the slide 0, of the guides a? a provided nearone end with the stop-lugs,

and the angle-bar 11, supportingthe opposite i 5 1 ends of said guides, substantially as and for l the purpose set forth.

1 WILLIAM PIIENIX.

. ltnesses:

I L. M. FREEMAN, M. J. PHOENIX. 

